Pain and Progress

I am presently undergoing a series of medical tests again to make sure of or rule out intolerances to certain nutritional substances. Particularly, I'm being tested on lactulosis-, fructose- and lactose-intolerance, starting with lactulosis today.

In order for the test to produce some valuable results you have to show up fasting, meaning having not eaten after 6pm the day before until the test and after - that makes 18 hours without food or drink, only decarbonized water is allowed. The test was scheduled for 9am this morning.

To my own surprise I showed up there in time, that is 9am sharp, not one minute earlier or later... ;-) I was then ushered to the lab, introduced to another gentleman and his family, who had already started the procedure and then got instructed on how the test was to be taken. The doctor was a very nice, helpful and compassionate lady in her late fourties, I'd say. After having detailed the test procedure, she prophylactically showed me the restrooms, quick to explain that the liquid I was about to drink generally produces and enhances the symptoms I've been suffering from for most of my life and which brought me here in the first place. It turned out to be a very much needed advice...

So, 9.10 am I'm having about 200 ml (a drinking glass) of lactulosis, which is a bi-saccharide (sugar) contained in many foods. I am then instructed to exhale into a syringe for about 10 seconds, close it with the according plug and repeat that routine every 10 minutes for a total time of 2 hours. Fair enough and no big deal apart from being a little drousy after having exhaled hard, not having had any food nor drink this morning and showing up after a lousy night with maybe 4 hours of sleep in total.

The gentleman I had been introduced to starts a conversation, which I'm initially very grateful for, as it has me forget my own lousy condition this morning. Also, his wife and particularly his daughter seem to be very nice persons and I'm beginning to think "Oh, this is going to be a walk in the park, and afterwards you reward yourself with a big, "fat" Thai lunch at a nearby restaurant.". That was the plan...

Five minutes into the first testing cycle, I sense an unpleasant sensation in the abdomen and lower intestinal parts. I can't hang on to that thought for too long and hurry to excuse myself, then practically running to the bathroom I was shown before. Did the lady doctor mention getting the runs...?

However, I can't take too long using that bathroom, either, as I have to "whistle" into the syringe again before ten minutes have elapsed. What can I say? The morning continued in much a similar fashion, with cramps and abdominal pain accompanying the four or five times of my attempt to set a new sprint world record for the nearest "utility area"...

If I had needed any proof of how much better I have been feeling eversince addressing my severe health issues about two and a half years ago, it would have to be today's experiences. Apart from the embarrassment of having to "go" every 10-20 minutes, I literally felt like shit. And then the pain. Then migrane setting in. Loss of appetite. Sweating. Shall I continue or are you already throwing up? I can't get myself to imagining, how in the world I have managed to go to WORK in such a condition, let alone just endure this for about 25 years NON-STOP!!!! If you think, I'm being overly dramatic, go ask my ex-wife about our time together...

And then, being in the company of this very nice Bahraini family, it made it all the more apparent to me how limiting my condition has been all along: I mean, if you have to monitor your bowels permanently, how can you possibly enjoy just about ANYTHING? No surprise, I'm being totally burnt out from enduring chronic disease...

Speaking of that: I'm afraid I'm about to face complete bankruptcy given my condition. But that would be another post.

In closing, do I need to mention, I felt literally sick the entire day? Having endured the symptoms from this "drink" sent me to bed right away. I slept for two hours and then drove me to get up again to get some email checked upon and replied to.

Next week, the testing (make that "torture"...) continues for another two sessions...